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John Keeler served as a Ranger
& Private in Col. Weissenfel's N. Y. Militia. He enlisted
on April 1, 1782 in Wallkill Twp., Ulster Co., N.Y. and spent
9 months scounting for potential Indian attacks on the "frontier"
near Minisink, N.Y.

Revolutionary War Pension File (W.5555):

KEELER, John

State of Pennsylvania

Columbia County

Set on this fifth day of November 1832 personally appeared
before the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County aforesaid
now [acting?] John Keeler a resident of Sugarloaf township in
the county of Columbia aged sixty eight years who being [?] +
duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the [pension?] made
by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted
in the army of the United States in the month of April in the
year 1782 in a Company Commanded by Captain John L. Hornbeck
and was attached to a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Weisenfell.
Deponent enlisted at Walkill Township Ulster
County in the State of New York and was marched to Wa[ssink?]
on the frontier, we were engaged in Ranging and Scouting for Indians.
I continued on the frontiers engaged in the Service until about
the Twenty fifth of December in the year 1782 when we were discharged
at [Wassink?]. I enlisted for nine months but was discharged
at that time before the term expired. I enlisted on the first
day of April in the year 1782 was marched for the frontier on
the fifteenth of April on the same year and was discharged about
the twenty - fifth of December 1782. I received a written discharge
from my Captain which I have lost. there were no other troops
in Company with us. There was one Regiment and Commanded by Col.
Weisenfeld I think the Majors name was Dewitt but I am not certain
- the troops were scattered along the frontier from near Sop[?]
to Minisink - I served nine months all to about Six days. He hereby
relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension [?] [?] county except
the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension
Roll of any agency in any state

Sworn + Subscribed the day

+year aforesaid John Keeler

Jacob Eyerly Prothy

And the said Court, do hereby declare their opinion that
the within named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and Served
as he States. Seth [Chapman?]

William Montgomery

Pennsylvania

Columbia County Set

I Jacob Eyerly Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas
of Columbia County, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the
application of John Keeler for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand + seal
of Office at danville the fifth day of November AD 1832

Jacob Eyerly Prothy

State of Pennsylvania

County of Columbia

On the nineteenth Day of January 1837 personally appeared
in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in
and for the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania now sitting,
John Keeler a resident of Sugarloaf township in said County of
Columbia + State of Pennsylvania aged seventy-three years, who
being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enterd the service
of the United States under the following named officers and served
as herein after stated.

Weissenfeld
was his Colonel, Dewitt Major, John S. Hornbrick was his Captain, John
Jamison
was his first Lieutenant, ___ Veinwike was his 2nd Lieutenant. he
entered the service about the first Day of April one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-two, and that he left the service about
the twenty seventh Day of december of the same year (1782) he
resided in Wall Kill Township, County of Ulster County, and State
of New York at the time he entered the service. he was drafted
as a Militia man. his employ was scouting and ranging the woods
after the Indians and that their Regiment was stretched in a time
from Eropus [?] to Minisink and that they patrolled from one end
of the Regiment to the other every week and there were no continental
Regiments of companies near them their principle object was to
protect the frontiers against the Indians as in the summer previous
the Indians had been down and destroyed many lives particularly
in the Township of Wa[ssick?]. they did not burn the church
but cut the door all to pieces and that he has no documentary
evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to his service.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not
on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn and subscribed the Day

and year aforesaid John Keeler

James ? ?

We Jack Rogers a Cleryman residing
in Huntington Township Luzerne County and Elias Dodson
residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with John Keeler who has [subscribed?] to the above declaration,
and that we believe him to be Seventy-three years of age, that
he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides
to have been a Soldier of the revolution and that we concur in
that opinion.

Sworn and Subscribed

the Day + year aforesaid Jack Rogers

Jonathan Westover Elias Dodson

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant
was a revolutionary soldier and served in he states. And the court
further certifies that it appears to them that Jack Rogers who
has signed the proceeding certificate clergyman, resident in the
Township of Huntington Luzerne County and that Elias Dodson, who
has also signed the [?] resident in the same place, and a credible
person and their statement is entitled to credit.

Ellis Lewis Pres. [?]

William Montgomery

Luzerne County

Personally appeared before me [?] a Justice of the peace
in and for said County John Koons
Post Master at Columbus in the Township of Huntington, Luzerne
County and after being duly sworn accodring to Law did depose
and say that he has been well acquainted with John Keeler the
above named applicant for a pension, for a number of years, that
he believes him to be of the age of Seventy three years, that
his character as a man of truth and veracity is good as far as
he is known and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and
he fully concurs in the opinion he has said deponent further states
that some ten or twelve years since he heard said Applicant in
conversation with Abiel Fellows late
of Huntington Township who is now dead but was well know to have
served as a soldier in the revolutionary war in relation to their
service and by their conversation (said deponent) that they had
both served in one Regiment during the campaign mentioned in the
declaration of the above named applicant.

Sworn + Subscribed by

me this 18th day of January John Koons

1837

Jonathon Westover

After which the court proceeded to pro[?] the following
interrogations.

Where and in what year were you born?

I was born in Goshen Town Orange County
NY in year one thousand seven hundred + sixty four

Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?

I have the record of my age at my house in my Bible

Where was you living when called into the service: and where
have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now
live?

When called into the service, I lived
in Wallkill Township Ulster Co. I have since lived in Sugarloaf
Township, Columbia Co. (formerly Northumberland County)

How were you called into the service: were you drafted,
did you volunteer, or were you a substitute for whom?

I was drafted

State the names of some of the regular officers who were
with the troops where you served such continental or Militia regiments
as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.

There was but the one regiment which was to guard the frontiers
against the Indians. Weissenfeld was our Colonel. Dewitt our major
John L. Hornbeck our captain, John Johnson 1st Lieutenant, Van[?]
2nd Lieutenant.

Did you ever receive a discharge from
the service and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?

My Captain gave me a written discharge which is lost.

State the names of persons to whom you are [?] in your present
neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity
and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution.

I James Donaldson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of
the County of Columbia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said bond in the matter of the
application of John Keeler for a Pension

In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand and seal of
office this 19th day of January 1837.

James Donaldson Prothey

Columbus, Luzerne County Pa April [27?] 1837

J. L. Edwards Esquire

Sir Enclosed you have the application of John Keeler for
a pension together with his declaration which had been retained
for amendment with a further authentication of the seal of Columbia
County as required by communication of the 25th January last.

most respectfully yours

Obedient Servant

John Koons-

Washington City Oct. 25 - 1837

Dear Sir;

The accompanying papers were received this morning enclosed
in a letter from John Koons of Luzerne County Pa in which he says
John Keeler the subject of those papers
has been allowed only $26.66/100 per annum as for am eight
month service when in fact he served nearly nine months and was
entitled to $32 per annum. He desires one to request a re-examination
of the subject and to have this error corrected if any exists
-

You will oblige me my dear Sir, to cause a response to be
had to the Records and to ascertain how the fact is - should an
error have been committed it will doubtless be corrected Advise
me if you please of the result and return the papers of Mr. Keeler

With great respect

Your friend

Geo. Wolf

James L. Edwards Esq

Commn - Pensions

Treasury Department

Second Comptroller's Office

September 12th, 1838

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," John Keeler a Pensioner of the Roll
of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of twenty six Dollars
and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th of june
1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of march 1837
to the 4th of September 1837.

Respectfully yours,

Albion K. Parris

Comptroller

Office of .....

J. W. Keeler & Co., Publishers

626 Arch Street

Philadelphia, Apr. 11th 1895

Commissioner of Pensions

Washington D.C.

Dear Sir,

I desire to obtain information regarding the Army record
of my Grandfather John Keeler who
was a soldier in the revolution. At the time of his death in 1849
he was a pensioner then a resident of Columbia Co., Pa. He was
born in York State not far from New York City and I suppose was
in a New York regiment. He moved to Columbia
Co. Pa in 1794. I think from the records in the Pension
Office his name can be found and a records of his service regiment
he was in [?]

I shall be pleased to have from you the information or be
informed what steps are necessary to obtain the source.

Yours truly

John W. Keeler

Cincinnati O. Jan 13 - 1900

Pension Commissioner

Washington D. C.

Dear Sir,

Will you kindly secure and forward to me the Military history
of my Great Grandfather John Keeler,
a soldier of the Revolutionary War? He was born at Goshen, N.Y.
in 1764 and enlisted the latter part of war for Independence.
During his life, sometime between 1830 and 1840 he secured a pension;
he lived at Sugarloaf, Pa., now Benton,
Post Office, Pa.

Respectfully yours

J. Willard Keeler

1567 Pullan Ave Cincinnati Ohio

4242 Chambers St

Cincinnati Feb 8th '07

Will you please send me the military record of my
grandfather John Keeler a soldier of the Revolution War.
I have been told that my great-grandfather
Ebenezer Keeler was also a soldier in same war, if so please
send this record also

In reply to your enclosed communication dated the 8th instant
and received in this Bureau on the 11th, you are advised that
in order to identify a claim for Revolutionary War pension, the
full name of the soldier and some of the following data is essential:
organization in which the soldier served; places of residence
at enlistment and after service; approximate date of death; given
name of widow.

Very respectfully,

V. Warner

Commissioner

Circ. Feb. 21 - 1907

My only object in writing is to get the military record
of soldiers named John Keeler enlisted at Wallkill N. Y. and made
application for pension while living in Sugarloaf Pa. Dont Know
anything about service of Ebenezer Keeler (if any) Hoping that
this explanation is sufficient.

I am your [?] Wm Keeler

T. J. Keeler

Carpenter and Builder

La Porte, Pa., July 31, 1911

To Pension Bureau Washington D.C.

My Dear Sir

will you please give me the Enlistment of John Keeler of
the Revolution War. I do no Know weather he Enlisted in York State
or Pennsylvania and greatly oblige

Respectfully yours

T. J. Keeler

direct to 118 Filbert St.

Roselle Park New Jersey

Sacramento Cal.

Dec. 30, 1912

The Pension Department

Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

I am writing you in response to a request from my
mother Mrs. S A Stargel, to find what records you have
in you department regarding her father

The name was John Keeler of Muncy,
Sullivan Co., PA. He died about 1851 at the age of something
like 78 or 87 years of age.

He was drawing a pension from the U. S. Govt. for some military
service.

Mother does not know what service he was in or the company
he served in. She was only a small child when he died, and soon
afterward was separated from all her relatives and all her family
records were lost on the plains in the pioneer days.

Any information whatever that you may be able to give me
as to the service he was in or whatever your records may show,
will be very gratefully appreciated by the grand daughter of John
Keeler.

Yours very truly,

Mrs. E. A Stickney

1722 Q St

Sacramento, Cal.

[Standard Pension Commissioner Information Inquiry Response
Form]

In reply to your request of __[blank]__, received ___[blank]___
for a staement of the military history of John Keeler a soldier
of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information
as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

S File 5555

Dates of Enlistment Or Appointment Apl 1, 1782

Length Of Service Nearly 9 Months

Rank [check mark]

Officer Served Under: Captain John Hornbeck

Colonel Weissenfels

State N.Y.

Battles engaged in, none stated

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wallkill Twp., Ulster
Co., NY

Date of application of pension, Nov. 5, 1832 [Alid. ?]

Residence at date of application, Sugarloaf Twp., Columbia
Co., Pa.

Age at date of application, born in 1764 at Goshen, Orange
Co., N.Y.

Remarks: No family data.

Very respectfully,

_____________

Commissioner.

Sacramento Cal. Jan 27th 1913

Bureau of pensions

Dept. of Interior

Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:

I am in receipt of your favor dated jan 22nd 1913, (War
Section) and note that you say "that there is no provision
of law which would enable the children of a soldier of the Revolution
to pension."

Sec. 4742 of revised Statutes reads: "From and after
the 2nd day of April, 1862, no claim for a pension, or for an
increase in pension, shall be allowed in favor of the children
or other descendants of any person who served in the war of the
revolution, or the widow of such person, when such person or his
widow died without having established a claim to a pension."

If this section is still in force, I believe it would entitle
my mother Mrs. Sarah Agnes Keeler Stargel, to pension.

My mother was born Feb. 7th 1840;
her father was John Keeler who was born in 1764 at Goshen,
New York. He enlisted Apr 1st 1782, served about 9 months, under
Cap John Hornbeck and Col. Weissenfels. He applied for pension
Nov 5th 1832 and was granted same May 9th 1837 (under Act of June
7th 1832) certificate #31,095. At
the time of his death, my mother was under sixteen years of age,
and he had established his claim for pension prior to April 2nd
1862, so I believe my mother entitled to pension.

The question will naturally be raised, why was not an application
made before this/ The answer is that my mother was quite young
when her father died and she was not then
living at Liberty, Pa. and was not advised until about
four days after his death. Not knowing that she was entitled (together
with a sister who was then living but has since died) to a pension,
(his wife having died before him in 1845)
no attempt was made to secure such. A few weeks ago an article
in a book by Frederic J. Haskins, entitled The American Government
attracted her attention. This article stated (page 98) that Mrs.
Phoebe Palmeter, daughter of a Revolutionary soldier[,] pensioned
by a special act of Congress, was the only pensioner on account
of the Revolutionary War remaining on the roll in 1911. Mother
has always maintained that she was the daughter of a revolutionary
soldier but her friends have always said that could not be. I
therefore applied to the Bureau of pensions on Dec 30th 1912 for
information concerning my grandfather and received their reply
on Jan 10th 1913 setting forth some of the facts mentioned in
the beginning of this letter. The information contained in the
letter form the Bureau, together with the information which my
mother could give, established the fact that the John Keeler mentioned
was indeed her father, and that she is therefore a daughter of
a soldier of the Revolution.

If we are correct in this matter and entitled to make a
claim, will you kindly send us the necessary instructions an application
blanks for so doing.

Thanking you in advance,

Yours very truly

Mrs. Isabelle Stargel Stickney

1722 - Q Street

Sacramento, Cal.

[stamped as received by US Pension Office Feb. 1, 1913]

February 3, 1913

Mrs. I. S. Stickney

1722 Q Street

Sacramento, Cal.

Madam:

In response to your letter dated the 27th ultimo and received
the 1" instant, you are advised that Section 4742 Revised
Statutes has no bearing on the Revolutionary war claim of John
Keeler, who not only established his claim but was also allowed
pension at the rate of $26.66 per [annum ? smudged] upon a certificate
No. 31,095 in full satisfaction for services rendered.

There is no existing law which would entitle the children
of a soldier of the Revolution to pension. The daughters of such
soldiers who were pensioned were placed upon the roll by special
Acts of Congress. This was done in the case of Mrs. Phoebe Palmeter,
referred to by you.

The history of said John Keeler, revolutionary War pensioner,
which was furnished you on January 10, 1913, states that there
was no data as to his family on file in his claim.

Very respectfully,

J. L. Davenport

Commissioner.

Sacramento, Cal. Feb 24th 1913

Bureau of Pensions

Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:-

I have received several communications from your Department
relative to John Keeler, Private, War of the Revolution, and desire
to thank you for your promptness in replying and the information
so freely given.

As stated in previous correspondence, my mother Sarah
Agnes Keeler Stargel was born Feb. 7th 1840 and at the
time of her father's death, was under sixteen years of age. As
we understand it, children under sixteen years of age at the time
of the death of a revolutionary soldier who had previously established
his claim to pension, were also entitled to pension until they
became sixteen years old. As my grandmother had died before my
grandfather, his children were left orphans. As nothing was ever
said to the children that they were entitled to a pension after
their father's death, no effort has ever been made before to obtain
one.

Would be pleased to receive a reply to the situation as
presented above. For further facts, please refer to my letter
of Jan 27th 1913.

We also desire to obtain a Special Act of Congress in behalf
of my mother that she may now receive a pension as a daughter
of a Revolutionary soldier, the same as was done in the case of
Mrs. Phoebe Palmeter. Will you kindly give instructions how we
shall proceed and what facts we should establish.

Thanking you for your kindness,

Yours very truly

Mrs. Isabelle Stargel Stickney

1722 Q Street

Sacramento, Cal.

[stamped as received by US Pension Office Mar. 3, 1913]

Berwick, Pa

July 13, 1937

Will you please send me all the data you can concerning
John Keeler who died Nov. 22, 1849
I think he was born in N.Y. but do not know if he enlisted in
N.Y. or Pa. Thanking you in advance

Respectfully

Mrs. Gomer Crawford

367 Mulberry St.

Berwick, Pa

July 31, 1937

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mrs. Gomer Crawford BA-J/ady

367 Mulberry Street John Keeler

Berwick, Pennsylvania S.5555

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to John Keeler,
a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained form the papers
on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.5555, based
upon the military service of John Keeler in that war.

John Keeler was born in Goshen, Orange County, New York,
in 1764, day, month, and the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Wallkill Township, Uster County, New
York, John Keeler enlisted April 1, 1782, and served about nine
months as a private in Captain John Hornbeck's Company, Colonel
Weissenfels' New York Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November
5, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Sugarloaf Township,
Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

There are no family data.

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller

Executive Assistant

to the Administrator

[hand written note says "Date of death not on aB]

Transcribed by Douglas J. Weaver, July 24, 1999 from
photocopies of the original documents. Spelling errors are as found
in the documents. Brackets [ ] are used to indicate additions,
clarification, interpretations by the transcriber.